Ball for use in athletics.



R.- REACH.

- BALL FOR USE IN ATHLETICS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 29, 1908.

929,01 3. Patented July 27, 1909.

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UNITED STATES i annr oFFIoE.

ROBERT REACH, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

BALL FOR USE IN ATHLETICS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT REACH, citizen of the United States, residingat Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Balls for Use in Athletics, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to athletic goods and particularly to a ball foruse in gymnasiums and athletic sports, and it consists in the featuresof construction and combination and arrangement of parts hereinafterdescribed and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view of a ball partly in section andpartly in elevation constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2is a similar View of a ball constructed in accordance with amodification of my invention. 7

In making up this ball, I employ a center of sponge which is held inshape under compression by an envelop or coverin shown at 1. Thiscovering or holder for the sponge of spherical form, being made ofcanvas, cotton or similar flexible material or textile fabric. Thesponge material 2 is made to completely fill this envelop or holder, andfor this purpose I prefer to introduce it in wet condition, through aslit or opening 3 in the envelop which may then be closed by stretchingas shown. It is forced in under sufficient pressure and in sufficientquantity to completely fill the envelop or holder, so that this will beof spherical form and will remain completely filled with the sponge whenthe same has become dry. After completing the formation of the spongecenter with its containing envelop, I place about the envelop a coveringmaterial of leather, canvas, or other suitable material whichSpecification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 29, 1908.

closely fits the exterior of the envelop. By

Patented. July 27, 1909.

Serial No. 435,753.

this means I provide a ball which is light and resilient, and suitablefor use in athletic sports. The sponge center, when dry, completelyfills the interior of the envelop and of the ball, and provides a lightand springy material, and thus meets all of the necessary conditions.The sponge when dry is still in a compressed state, so that everyportion of the envelop is completely filled out and is of spherical orother desired shape.

The compressed sponge may be employed for centers of base balls insteadof rubher. as now used, with equal efiiciency and at less cost. Incarrying out the invention as applied to this use I wind the compressedsponge with yarn and to the size desired, and the cover is then applied.This winding is indicated at 4 in Fig. 2.

I claim my invention l. The method herein described of making a ball,consisting in wetting sponge, taking the wet sponge and surrounding thesame while in a wet condition with a holding or binding material whichwill hold the wet sponge in compressed condition, and then applying acover to the binding or holding means and the compressed sponge heldthereby, substantially as described.

2. The herein described method of making a ball, consisting in wettingsponge, taking the wet sponge and forcing it under pressure into anenvelop adapted to assume the shape desired when extended and thenapplying an outer covering to the said envelop, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT REACH.

Witnesses MARY MCALLA, STEPHEN F. BEALE.

